Smelting furnace



M. zrPPLER, .JRy SMELTING FURNACE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 16 z'o/zael Zip/alaaf:

allo/M1054 Nov. 4, 1941. M. zlPPLER. JR

SMELTING FURNACE Filed May 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNlTED; sT

' PATENT OFFICE- 9 Claims.

This invention relates to smelting furnaces, and

more particularly a revoluble furnace for sme1t.

ing brass or like metals.

An object of this invention is to provide a revoluble furnace of this character'having an improved lining formed of refractory material which is readily replaceable in the furnace body without removing the body from its mounting;

Another object of this invention is to provide a revoluble furnace having positioned therein a chamber for holding solid metal and a second chamber for receiving only the molten metal, the two chambers being separated by a refractory wall having openings which communicate one chamber with the other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a furnace of this type in which the dividing wall between the two chambers also forms a baffle against which the blaze from the 'heating nozzle is adapted to impinge.

A still further object of this invention is to pro- Q vide a furnace of this type having a solid metal receiving chamber and a molten metal chamber, the latter chamber beingprovided with refractory means for stirring or agitating the molten metal as the furnace is revolved.

A further object of this invention is to provide a furnace of this type which is so constructed that it may be rotated either manually or by a suitable power means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a revoluble furnace which is so constructed that the refractory lining may be readily renewed without removing the furnace from its mounting.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa longitudinal section taken through a furnace constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional View similar to Figure 3, but showing a modified form of baffle.

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 with the outer housing removed and showing another modiiied'form of baille.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates generally an annular housing which is formed with a cylindrical side wall, the side Wall being formed of arcuate plates I I, I2 and I3. The two arcuate plates II and I2 are hingedly secured together by a hinge structure I4 and the cylindrical body formed by the plates Il, l2 and I3 are secured adjacent the opposite ends thereof to a pair of annular end plates I and I6 by fastening devices I1 and I8, respectively. `A cylindrical trunnion I9 extends axially from the end plate I5 and is secured to the end plate I5 `by fastening devices 20, which engage through an annular flange 2| carried by the inner end of the trunnion I9; A second trunnion 22 extends from the annular plate or end Wall I6 and i's secured thereto by fastening devices 23, which engage through an annular flange 24 carried by the inner end of the trunnion 22.

The trunnion- I9 is rotatably 'mounted in a bearing 25 which includes anti-friction rollers 26 and the bearing 25 is carried by a standard 21. The trunnion 22 is rotatably carried by a bearing 28 which includes anti-friction rollers 29 and the bearing 28 is carried by a standard or base structure 30.- The trunnion 22 may have secured thereto a ring gear or driven member 3I with which a driving gear or pinion 32 meshes. The pinion 32 is fixed to a driving shaft 33, which is journalled in a bearing Ior boss 34 carried by the standard so that a crank or manually operable rotating means may be connected with the shaft 33 or if desired a power means may be operatively connected with the shaft 33 in order to rotate the housing I0 on the bearings 25 and 28.

The housing I0has mounted therein a cylindrical refractory wall 35 Which as shown in the drawinghas a forwardlytapering inner surface 36 which tapers from the intake end wall 31 to the outlet wall 38. The trunnion I9 also has a cylindrical refractory inner wall 39 which is formed with a cylindrical bore 40 fory a portion of its length'which at its inner end tapers as at 4I and merges with a cylindrical intake opening 42 which is formed axially of the inner end Wall 31. The trunnion 22 is also provided with an annular refractory inner wall 43 having a cylindrical bore 44 for a portion of its length which tapers inwardly as at 45 and merges with a cylindrical bore 46 communicating axially with the chamber formed Within the refractory Wall 35.l

A heat ejecting nozzle 41 is disposed axially of the refractory wall 39 and is adaptedv to eject heat or a flame axially through the bore 40 and the bore 42. The flame or heat produced by the nozzle 41 impinges against an inner refractory dividing wall 48 which is disposed Within the annular refractory wall 35 and which divides the interior of the furnace into a solid metal receiving chamber 49 and a molten metal chamber 50. The refractory wall 48 is provided about the axial center thereof with a plurality of openings 5I and is. alsoprovidedadjacent the periphery thereof with a plurality of passages 52 through which the molten metal is adapted to pass so that the solid metal after it becomes molten may flow from rthe scrap metal chamber 4B to the molten metal chamber 50.

In order to provide a means whereby the molten metal may be agitated or stirred as the furnace is being rotated, I have providedaV plurality of transversely extending parallel baille members or stirring blades 53, which are secured to the refractory wall 35and extend across the cylindrical portion 54l thereof. The refractory inner wall 35 withinv the moltenmetal chamber 58 is provided with'. an outlet opening 55 which communicates, withal nozzle 56 xed to the arcuate plate I 3., It will, of course, be understood that if desired.' a valve or closure may becarried by the nozzle 56 so as to retain themolten metal within the housing until it is desired to have the molten metal discharged through the nozzle 56 to a suitable receiver. It will also be understood that in order to discharge the molten metal from the interior of the housing I0, the housing. will be substantially in theposition shown in Figure 2 so that the nozzle 55 will be in a lowermost position.

The lower housing section I 3 may be provided with a pair of spaced' apart supporting strapsV 56a between whi-ch the spout 56rengages, and a closure or valve plate 5617 engages over the end` ofthe spout 56, being slidably supported by the straps 56a. When it is desired to discharge the metal the plate is removed by endwise movement thereof.'

In the use and operation.` of this device, the scrap metal is placed in the solid metal chamber 49A by inserting the metal.' through the bore 483 of the trunnion lining 38; The housing I9 may then be rotated by the driving gear 32 and as the scrap metal in the chamber 49 becomes liquid, it will ilow'downwardly over the tapering surface 36 of the wall 35'throughthe openings 52 and into the molten metal chamber 58. As the housing I0 is being rotated and the molten metal enters the chamber 5U, this molten metal "e will be stirred or agitated by the stirring blades or agitators 53. By providing -the-dividing wall or baille 48 any scrap-metal which has not melted vwill not enter the molten metal chamber 58 so that upon discharge of the molten meta-l from the chamber 58, the unmelted scrap will clog the outlet opening 55.

In the event the lining 35 burns out or becomes damaged in any way, the lining may be readily removed by loosening the bolts I1 and I8 which secure either the plate II or the plate I2 to the end walls I5 and I6. The loosened plate, as for instance, plate I I may then be swung on the hinge structure I4 and the damaged or burnt lining may then be broken and removed whereupon the plate I I may be swung to a closed position and secured in this closed position in order to permit of the retaining of the lining 35. The inner wall or baille 48 may be formed of refractory material and the agitating blades or members 53 may also be formed of refractory material. The inner wall or baffle 48 constitutes a means for spreading the llame or heat from the nozzle 48 so as to more efficiently heat the scrap metal in the solid chamber 49.

The furnace is lined up through the bore 40, as this bore is initially made large enough for one to work through comfortably from the ends thereof, after which the size of bore 40 is reduced to the proper size that conditionsfrequire. The bore 40 is illustrated as of the proper size aforesaid.

The wall 48 is of greater thickness at its outer marginal portion than its inner portion, as at 48a, in order to give it more strength to stand up under the heat.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modified form of baffle or inner wall 48h which is formed with outer radial passages 52h similar to the pas- -sages 52. However in this form the central portion of the baille 48h is formed with anv axial opening 51 of substantial diameter. 'I'hislbafllev 48h is formed as shown toprovide for the properI smelting of certain kinds of metal which might burn or be undesirably affected with av furnace using the baille 48.

In Figure 5 there is shown' another formof baille 48e having radial passages 52e adjacent the outer portion thereof vand a semi-circular passage or opening 58. With a baille as shown. in Figure 5 the heat from the nozzle 41 will be partly deflected into' the chamber 49 and the remaining portion of the heat may passV through the opening 58 into the molten metal chamber 50.

What I claim is:

l. A smelting furnace comprising a revoluble annular structure formed of an intermediatel part and a pair of end parts, saidv intermediate part being of greater diameter than saidv endV parts, a refractory lining throughout the inner faces of said intermediate and end parts, a partion wall of refractory material in said intermedi-v ate part for dividing it into a chamber for receiving metal to be reduced and a` chamber for receiving the reduced metal, saidwall being provided with means for establishing communication between said'chambers and integral with the lining for'said intermediate part, one of said end parts constituting a heat intake for the chamber receiving the metal, balllesoperatingy in the reduced metal receiving chamber and carriedby the refractory lining of said` intermediate part',7

and outlet means for the reduced metal.

2. A smelting furnace comprising a revoluble housing formed of a pair of annular end walls, a cylindrical side wall formed of a plurality of arcuate sections detachably secured to theA outerv edges of the side Walls and means for hinging two of said sections together, a pair of oppositely disposed hollow trunnions secured to said: end walls, refractory linings for said trunnions and walls, a partition of refractory material secured to the lining for the side wall and coactingl with the linings for the end walls to-form a reducing chamber for metal and a chamber for receiving the molten metal, said partition provided with means for establishing communication between said chambers, bailles operating in the molten metal receiving chamber and carried by the refractory lining for said side wall, one of said trunnions constituting a heat intake for the reducing chamber, and a valve controlled outlet for said molten metal receiving chamber.

3. A smelting furnace comprising a revoluble housing formed of a pair of annular end walls, a cylindrical side wall formed of a plurality of arcuate sections detachably secured to the outer edges of the side walls and means for hinging two of said sections together, a pair of oppositely disposed hollow trunnions secured to said end walls, refractory linings for said trunnions and walls, a partition of refractory material secured to the lining for the side wall and coacting with the linings for the end walls to form a reducing chamber for metal and a chamber for receiving the molten metal, said partition provided with spaced means for establishing communication between said chambers, bales operating in the molten metal receiving chamber and carried by the refractory lining for said side Wall, one of said trunnions constituting a heat intake for the scrap metal receiving chamber, a valve controlled outlet for said molten metal receiving chamber, and means engaging with the other of said trunnions for revolving the housing.

4. A smelting furnace comprising a revoluble horizontally disposed annular structure formed of an intermediate part and a pair of end parts, said intermediate part being of greater diameter than said end parts and provided with means for dividing it into a metal reducing chamber and a molten metal receiving chamber, said intermediate part having means for establishing communication between said chambers, and spaced molten metal baflles Xed to said intermediate part and extending across the molten metal receiving chamber, one of said end parts constituting a material and a heat intake for said reducing chamber, and said intermediate part being provided with an outlet for said molten metal receiving chamber.

5. A smelting furnace comprising a revoluble housing having a pair of annular end walls, a cylindrical side wall formed of a series of arcuate sections detachably secured to the outer edges of the end walls and means for hnging two of said sections together, a pair of oppo'sitely disposed hollow trunnions secured to said end Walls, refractory linings for said walls and trunnions, a partition of refractory material secured to the lining for the side Wall and coacting with such lining and the linings for the end walls to form a chamber for reducing metal and a chamber for receiving the molten metal, the refractory lining for the side wall gradually increasing in diameter from an end wall towards said partition, spaced molten metal baflies disposed across the molten metal receiving chamber and carried by the lining for said side wall, one of said trunnions constituting a heat and material intake for the reducing chamber, and an outlet for said molten metal chamber.

6. In a smelting furnace, a horizontally disposed revoluble annular structure including a chamber for receiving and reducing metal, a chamber for receiving the molten metal from and disposed parallel to the said other chamber, means for establishing communication between said two chambers, spaced bailies extending across the molten metal receiving chamber, an outlet for the latter, and a combined material and heat intake for that chamber reducing scrap metal.

'7. In a smelting furnace a horizontally disposed revoluble annular structure including an intermediate part and a pair of end parts, said end parts constituting hollow trunnions and being of less diameter than said intermediate part, said intermediate part provided therein and intermediate its ends with a partition member Adividing such intermediate part into a chamber for receiving and reducing metal and a chamber for receiving the molten metal from the other chamber, said member having a group of spaced openings at its center and a circular row of spaced passages adjacent said group, said openings and passages permanently establishing communication between said chambers, an outlet for the molten metal receiving chamber, and one of said trunnions constituting a combined material and heat intake for the chamber in which the metal is reduced.

8. A smelting furnace comprising a revoluble housing formed of a pair of annular end walls, a cylindrical side Wall formed of a plurality of arcuate sections detachably secured to the outer edges of the side walls and means for hinging two of said sections together, a pair of oppositely disposed hollow trunnions secured to said end Walls, refractory linings for said trunnions and Walls, a partition of refractory material secured to the lining for the side wall and coacting with the linings for the end walls to form a reducing chamber for metal and a chamber for receiving the molten metal, said partition having a substantially large axial opening for establising communication between said chambers, baflies operating in the molten metal receiving chamber and carried by the refractory lining for said side wall, one of said trunnions constituting a heat intake for the scrap metal receiving chamber, a valve controlled outlet for said molten metal receiving chamber, and means engaging with the other of said trunnions for revolving the housing.

9. A smelting furnace comprising a revoluble housing formed of a pair of annular end walls, a cylindrical side wall formed of a plurality of arcuate sections detachably secured to the outer edges of the side walls and means for hinging two of said sections together, a pair of oppositely disposed hollow trunnions secured to said end walls, refractory linings for said trunnions and walls, a partition of refractory material secured to the lining for the side wall and coacting with the linings for the end Walls to form a reducing chamber for metal and a chamber for receiving the molten metal, said partition having a semi-circular opening therethrough for establishing communication between said chambers, baffles operating in the molten metal receiving chamber and carried by the refractory lining for said side wall, one of said trunnions constituting a heat intake for the scrap metal'receiving chamber, a valve controlled outlet for said molten metal receiving chamber, and means engagingA with the other of said trunnions for revolving the housing. y

yMICHAEL ZIPPLER, JR. 

